For many Cleveland students, the path to an aviation or aerospace career begins at Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL), through the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Academy. This week-long summer academy, designed for middle and high school students, introduces them to the wide range of careers available in aviation through immersive learning led by pilots, engineers, and other industry experts.

BKL provides an atmosphere conducive for students to explore aviation history, aerodynamics, aerospace technology, government aviation operations, and STEM concepts while interacting directly with professionals working in the field.

OBAP, founded in 1976, was created to expand access and opportunity in aviation and aerospace by removing barriers through mentorship and advocacy. Today, its nationally recognized, FAA-endorsed ACE Academies operates across the country, across dozens of communities, reaching more than 1,000 students each year. The main goal: helping to develop a more diverse and representative aviation workforce.

The Cleveland Academy extends that mission by connecting local youth with meaningful career pathways that can strengthen both the regional economy and the future aviation workforce.

Burke Lakefront Airport is essential to the success of the Cleveland ACE Academy, because it transforms aviation from an abstract concept into a tangible experience. As a general aviation airport located just minutes from downtown Cleveland, Burke gives students direct access to aircraft, airport operations, aviation businesses, and professionals who use the airport every day.

The airport provides an authentic learning environment where classroom lessons are reinforced through experiential learning, and even introductory flights that allow many students to fly in an aircraft for the first time. These real-world experiences help students envision themselves in aviation careers while demonstrating the many opportunities available beyond becoming a pilot.

The partnership between OBAP and Burke Lakefront Airport also creates long-term value for Cleveland through introducing local students to high-demand careers in aviation. The pathways stemming from an aviation-led education, that ACE Academy supports, help build a pipeline of future talent while inspiring young people to pursue STEM careers that contribute to the region’s economic growth. Burke is more than a host site; it is the gateway that makes the Cleveland ACE Academy possible, connecting education with opportunity and helping ensure that the next generation of aviation professionals can take flight right from Cleveland.